When color came to film, it was a thrilling moment. When color came to television, it was a groundbreaking moment. We celebrated the richness of the colors and they’ve only sharpened over the years. Today our images are even more alive, our colors more vibrant.

Yet, while we celebrate color in the digital world, why don’t we do the same in the real world? Why do we still stop there? Why do we build so many differences – race, ethnicity, religion, class? Why?

As one who’s traveled widely, criss-crossed continents several times, and even bumped up and down on the socio-economic ladder, it’s become quite apparent that people are people, no matter what color – pink, purple, green even! It’s become apparent that our frustrations, worries, concerns, fears are so universal. That is why great art, literature, and music sees no divide. Because its message is of human emotion.

That is why health is so critical to all. Disease has no patience for such differences. It is, in that sense, most fair.

Why is it that we live in such rich, complex societies with stories that stem from different corners of the globe and yet we still hesitate to truly embrace one another? Why?

When the rawness of humanity is so universal, why do we dwell on the superficial?

A friend sent me an article this morning that delineated our inability to truly live in our lifetimes because we are too eager to please. We are creatures who oddly think of others before ourselves many times. We are inclined to bend to the wishes of family and dear friends, even if they are against our deepest desires. We gravitate towards what we are told us “right.” But what is “right?” Is it my “right”? Is it your “right”? Who came up with “right”?

And in the mad cacophony of voices in our head, we forget our own. What if we do not see the differences? What if we do not see color, race, ethnicity, religion, or class? Should we because the world does as well? Should we because our families do as well? Should we because it is easier that way – to drive in the lane that you’re currently taking?

The questions seem endless. And yet, the answer repeatedly seems to be the same — no.

In a conversation with another friend this evening, he shared his admiration for those who take the sayings like “follow your heart,” “do what you love” and really do it. He says to me, there are so few in the this world who actually do it. Many of us hear it, admire it, delude ourselves to believe that we’re doing that, but how many of us go naked with our fears and take the challenge? Very few, he whispered. That’s why it’s admirable.

But, it’s also very hard. It’s very hard to explain to others; rather it’s very tiring. And sometimes, the daily strain of that exercise just tears us down emotionally. And so we return to the “right” path.

For so many of us, the lives that we live are the lives that have been crafted for us. They are not our raw desires. They are not our original vision. They are not our first love.

We do so to please others. To fit into the sweeping definitions we are defined by. Even if they sweep our lives by.

But, we live only for a few moments, only a few years on this planet, only a short lapse in the grander scheme. Why not please ourselves? Why not be guided by unfiltered passion? Why not go blind, using only what we feel? Why not be absolutely true to our deepest wishes?

Because it is difficult?

But nothing is difficult. As I’m told repeatedly, life is simple. People complicate it.

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FROM PAST 3 YEARS I AM BELIEVING THIS, THAT THE LIFE IS NOT A COMPLEX ENIGMA. IT’S WE AND THE OTHER VENDORS OF CONSUMERISM WHO BRAG ABOUT IT IN THIS SUPERFICIAL AND DECEITFUL FASHION TO KEEP IT ON A WEAK BUT EVEN KEEL, TO ALLOW THEIR FALSE BUSINESS RUNNING.

FROM PAST 3 YEARS I AM BELIEVING THIS, THAT THE LIFE IS NOT A COMPLEX ENIGMA. IT’S WE AND THE OTHER VENDORS OF CONSUMERISM WHO BRAG ABOUT IT IN THIS SUPERFICIAL AND DECEITFUL FASHION TO KEEP IT ON A WEAK BUT EVEN KEEL, TO ALLOW THEIR FALSE BUSINESS RUNNING.
THANK FOR POSTING THIS POINT OF VEIW.
🙂

Life Is Simple. Yes. And In My Opinion – Even More Dividing Today Is The Apartheid Of The Colors Within. I Wonder – Emotional Apartheid – Does That Exist ? I Have Asked The Question To The “Positiv Thinkers” The Past Years. I Mean – Are We Building A World And Society Where We Divide People In Positiv + And Negativ People – Positiv – Compared To White And Negativ – Black – Where There Is A Huge Risk To Contribute To Validate These Colors In Our Attitudes -In Terms Of -Good – Bad. Positiv- Heaven. Negativ-Hell. And The Grand Canyon We Build Between Within – Is A Mirror On The Surface. The Superficial. If I Could I Would. Build More Bridges Within And Across The Globe Over The Troubled Waters. In The Colors Of The Rainbow. Oui. LalalalooooooVE Ninni Rebekkah X

People don’t complicate it for you. The clarity in yourself has not got enough oxygen. There aren’t many complex thoughts and ideas to deal with. There is at best one familiar thought about complexity which seems to enjoy enough attention and repeat value in your being. It gets attached and linked with many other thoughts. You are looking for unity in the apparent diversities of the world. It is not to be found there.

I hope you do not miss the obvious here. The real angst is not coming from diverging views from people. Nor is it from your own struggle to settle with one. The angst is a natural one, it comes from your need to find that which is ‘real’. Experience tells you that nothing seems to hold tight to a reality test, you want to find that terra firma of ‘Real’ which will not shake in the light of any scrutiny or decay of time. But if you keep looking that in the changeful world of opinions, a.k.a mind, you will spend a lifetime doing it.

Find out it if the unrest hurts you enough to take you beyond. Or has it left you settled in its discomfort. The mind loves survival through pain as much as through pleasure. The attention in you has to move from the need to find a fix in the world, to need of finding the ‘Real’, to find the Truth,

Turn inwards. Let the flow of attention move to the experiencer of the world. As long as the attention and awareness is stuck with the waves, you will experience life in waves. Your true nature needs to be investigated and known. That latent desire to free yourself from limitations ‘mumuksutva’ needs to be nurtured . If the desire in you is strong enough you owe yourself atleast this effort to go from being a ‘mumukshu’ to a ‘jignasu’ – an earnest enquirer, not a mere settler or hunter of the next attractive concept.

All these questions, angst… everything has passed through the mind so fast and in such intensity that life was suffocating and then came the realisation of what is what and then a desire to set myself free and I completely agree with what Mr.Deepak has said above.
And it needs lots of courage to let go and be simple… there are times even when we think life is simple, we feel others make it very complicating for us… but if we get that clarity and courage we shall live a simple and clear life… that’s how is the feel right now !

Your post really helped me a lot today .Thanks….I was in a turmoil about taking some harsh decisions in life, specially in dealing with my own own relatives. I was going through the phase of “we are too eager to please. We are creatures who oddly think of others before ourselves many times. We are inclined to bend to the wishes of family and dear friends, even if they are against our deepest desires. We gravitate towards what we are told us “right.” ….Now I have more clarity in my thoughts . Thanks again!!

Your article is related to the late Steve Jobs (founder of Apple Computers) following quote.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

The aforementioned quote is from his speech to the graduating class of Stanford University, USA. He gave the speech after he was diagnosed with cancer, and had the cancer surgically removed. During the speech, he declared he was cancer-free. He eventually died of cancer last year. Seems the surgery did not completely cure him, but gave him a few extra months of life.

In the paragraph above, I mentioned about Steve Jobs cancer, because for many of us, only after we are faced with a life threatening situation do we realise that enough is enough. It’s about time that I live for myself. And by the way, living for myself, does not mean excluding you.

This whole anxiety to bethe ‘same’ is immature. Yes, colours, races, languages, cultures are different in people, also in flora and fauna. There is huge diversity in nature and it has to be acknowledged, instead of moaning about differences- look what monotheistic cultures hav done to the planet! The earth was a paradise of diversity if customs, languages, colours and cultures. It will be a sad day when the earth is ‘converted’ into a monolith in any form.

If everyone followed their deepest desires and passions blindly , we will have many more blood thirsty chengiz khans, moguls, church mobs or islamic warriors other scum like the british influxting their miserable decoitry . The putpose if lufe is not just advzncement of desires also letting go if some.

this planet is a sacred space for all spirits to grow, spiritually. Not just materially .this has been tampered with the rise of exclusive religions and cultures and equally, the rise of stupidity in people, as this blog illustrates 😉

Loved each and every word of it….I always felt life is complicated but now actually realised, you are right…its not life..its the set of people you take in your life who can make it complicated or easy….few weeks back I disconnected with few, who were actually making it complicated, and nowadays feeling so relieved…and going through your article, is giving a sense of achievement and pride that I wasnt wrong in going away….to release life from the hands of complications….